5.8.12

We corralled the kids (as well as my niece and nephew) into the Research Station for pictures this afternoon.  As I expected, trying to get a group shot of kids ranging from age 11 months - 5 years was a joke.  Thankfully I got good shots of each kid to give to Josh's mom as a Mother's Day gift.
The last few days I've become increasingly anxious and depressed about my return to work on Monday.  There have been days where I have thought returning to work would be the best thing on the planet.  And it's not that I don't want to work.  I do.  I also am looking forward to some adult conversation during the day.  But still, I don't think I am prepared for this, and it's really beginning to sink in what an ordeal it will be for the kids to get used to being in daycare ALL day, 5 days a week.  I think Paige will adapt really well.  She loves other kids and seems to like being there.  I'm not sure about Wyatt.  I don't think he's warming up to the new daycare as well as I'd hoped.  He likes the women who run it, and it has only been a few weeks that he's gone (and only two afternoons a week) - but he still tells me he doesn't want to go, and looks downright devastated when I drop him off.  Each time he asks, "Will daddy pick me up in a little bit?  I only have to stay here a little while?"  That doesn't make me feel good.  I know at some point he has to get used to other kids and adapt to his surroundings, but do I have to push him into it at age 3?
I certainly cannot afford to stay home right now, but it's also almost not worth it for me to go back to work.  I have no choice but to work full time (like many other mothers out there, I'm sure) just so that I can bring home enough money to buy groceries and pay for daycare each week.  I haven't worked full time in over 3 years, and I have never had to juggle a full time job with 2 kids.  I wish there were a bit of a warm up so I'm not just throwing us all in head first.
Like my mother said, I have to remind myself that this is not forever.  This is just for "right now".  Hopefully I can find a happy medium soon.

5.7.12

I'm back! Got home from Calgary last night. It was far too short of a trip! It felt like just as we started to settle in, it was time to go. :( I often feel like I get the short end of the stick when it comes to visiting with my brother and his family. If I'm out there, it's a short trip. If they're out here, they stay 1 1/2 hours away, and we usually can't stay too long if we make the trip to my parents, with the kids needing to go to bed! Such is life with a young family I suppose.
I did have a good time though. Besides cuddling my new nephew and chasing my niece, I got to go to IKEA, check out Okotokes, eat a Crave cupcake (or two), experience why Google Maps should never be trusted, and I got to starfish in a queen bed all by myself. Oh yeah, and I got to drive the Deerfoot in pouring snow/slush/rain. Fun.
Thanks to FaceTime, I was able to visit with the kids and Josh once or twice a day, which really helped. The kids sure didn't seem to notice I was home today. :P

5.1.12

Hooray for May! A trip to Calgary, Paige's first birthday, my return to work...okay, not sure if that calls for celebration.
Paige surprises me every day with what she is capable of. Here she is trying to get food onto a fork. She combs her own hair, and I swear I saw her trying to hook up a trailer to one of Wyatt's toy semis. Smart cookie. And today she figured out how to drink from a straw, so we quickly figured out that whole bottle to cup transition in a few minutes.
It always bugs me a bit when people compare their kids (of course they are different! They're 2 separate people!), but it's getting harder not to with Paige and Wyatt. They could not be more different, honestly. I'm trying to think if one thing that has been similar...well, they both love to laugh and have the BEST laughs. I'd love to set them as ringtones. ;)

4.29.12

Well, my 30th has come and gone. Feels about the same as it did last week. Go figure.
I try not to have high expectations for my birthdays (or any holiday in which gifts are exchanged), I haven't even really celebrated my birthday in about 5 years. But with much urging, I planned something this year. My original plan fell through, too many people couldn't make it. My next plan was a simple dinner and drinks, which fell through too, because of people bailing at the last minute. One of those situations where you hate to be right. I'm trying not to dwell on it too much, but it certainly was an eye opener, and a lesson in appreciating those who are willing to make you a priority, even for just one night.
Josh was gone all weekend again, so we never really had a chance to celebrate together either. And most importantly, I didn't get a birthday sleep-in! Oh, the humanity!
I'll leave you with a card Wyatt (and I) made for me this morning. He was a little ripped that he didn't get to pick a card for me AND that Josh signed his name. Paint and sparkles. :)

4.25.12

Josh and Wyatt are making me a cake. Wyatt saw an Elmo's World yesterday where they made a cake, and he got it in his head that he and Josh had to make me a cake. With flowers...and a crane. Of course!

4.22.12

Wyatt and I took a quick detour to the park this morning. He played on every.single.structure. I'm happy to say both kids are feeling much, much better.

4.19.12

I've added a few more touches to Paige's room in the last few months, thought I would share them today instead of regailing you with more vomit talk.

I picked up the owl bank at A Child's Place in St. Vital mall, the birdcage was given to me by a friend. I still want to spray paint it, just not sure what colour yet. I don't like it's home on the shelf, it's too wide. I may just hang it in the corner of her room.

The owl clock came from Toad Hall Toys on Arthur Street in Winnipeg. It is such a cool toy store! Although it was a bit of a pain - the original mechanism made so much bloody noise, I could hear it through the monitor and it kept me up at night. I found a different mechanism, but the hands were too small, and they kept catching on each other. Finally found new hands to work with the new mechanism and now we know what time it is. ;)

The birth announcement print was something I did up for both kids after seeing one on Etsy that I liked. I painted the piggy bank with some paint markers that I bought, but it didn't turn out as I had hoped - the markers didn't really take to the ceramic bank very well. Sock monkey is from Megan at Bloom.

I couldn't not include her, right? You can tell she's still not feeling so well, but there is a wee bit of a smile behind that upside down soother.